Automatic spraying apparatus



Filed May 22, 1947 ZSheets-Sheet 1 8, 5 E. L. MALHIOT 7 2,518,038

AUTOMATIC SPRAYING APPARATUS M VE/VTOR 1. MAlH/OT mum f 8/ m Aug. 8, 1950 E. MALHIOT 2,518,038

AUTOMATIC SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 I 6'8 I f Patented Aug. 8, 1950 2,518,038' AUTOMATIC SPRAYING:

" WJPARA'TIIIS Eugene L. Malhiot, Maywfodd; lll.", assignor to I Western Electric Company,"Incorprated, New' York, N. Y., a corporation oiiNew York {Application Mam, 1947,.Serial No, {749,313

A This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically sprayingi parts and more particularly to an apparatus for oil spraying step by-step banks arrangedin multiple on telephone equip- I'll 6 1113. i It is an object of thepresent IinventiontO PIO- videasimple; and efictive apparatus for automaticallyspraying-parts. 'In one embodiment of the invention, wherein the banks of themultiple are arranged in a row with the wiper ends of the terminals extending upwardly and the banksare individually mounted on pairs, 'ofsupporting' pins extending horizontally from awfixture the fixture is placed on a conveyor which moves the banks asuccessively under an oil spraying head. The oil spraying head, int-he form of an' airoperated spray gun, isno'untedfor vertical reciprocation by a fluid-e afctuatedpl'ung'er under control of an electrical control mechanism including a pair'of normally open switchesconnected in series. The switches, asthe bank multiple is advanced, ,will both be imultaneously cl'dsedby the pins carrying one bank whenthebank is. properly positioned under the head; Ith'ereby completing a circuit to. cause the; headjtjo be lowered into close proximity to the bank 'and'causelthe spray gun to be momen' tarii'y actuated'tospray a predetermined amount of oil, 'in'the form of a mist, onto the wiper ends ofitheyterminals offnthe bank after which the head is rapidly moved to its. raised position.

The invention wjill be more fully. understood from theifollowing description'when considered inconjunetion with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in whi J Fig. 1 is a fragmentary frontelevational view of the foiling' apparatus with parts broken away and showing the il s'praying head in raisedposii 1 Y jFig. 2is a vertical sectional view of'the appar as shown: in Fig. land taken onthe line-1+2 t re -J N i V k 7 vertical sectional 'viewof ai portion of the apparatustak'en on the line 3-3 ofFigIZ and showing the head lowered to an operative position adjacent abank of the bank multiple; a'Ii'd'f "x 1 {Fig.4 isa diagrammjatic view illustrating the spray head and theoil and air connections there'- to and thefel ectr'ical control system for controlling the'operation thereof.

the mbodiinent'of theinvention illustrated in the drawings, the oiling apparatus is designed i 'e r a spr y: of 13 t e. m 01 a fine is 8 Claims. (01, ie-4 y on: the upwardly extending wiper ends iof'the terminals l'fl'of the individual banks IZ'of'a bank multiple forming partofi step by ste'p-telephone equipment. As indicfaatedinliig; 2,Ythe bank multiple may be, double and;arrang dside by side as. indicated at l4fand"I,5'J"'Af"pair of banks l2; one from each of'the'bank multiples l4 and l5,.as.'shown in Figsll and' 2,'a're;1nounted on a pair "of supporting rods IT-ill which are inserted into apertures inan'd'egitend horizone tally outwardly from a vertical panel [8' which may form a part of a ieee -of telephoneiequip ment or asupportingfixture; 201 The banks l2 are retained on the'rods ll'by shoulderportions 22 formed thereon and are arranged endto jend in'spaced relation to each otherinahorizontal row, as indicated in'Figs. 1 and 3. The support-- ing' Ifixture is placed on a b'elt'conveyor' 24,

supported on a table 2 5, for moving. the fixture at a relatively slow speed along a predetermined path between guide rails2l and 28. The return eo'urse29 of the belt 24 is supported in a housing mounted on the under sideof the table 25.

The banks l2, as they arec'arried along bythe conveyor, belt 24, are moved. underneath an oil spraying head 32 comprising a pair of spray guns 33"and 34 mountedfin'vertical alignment above the path of travel of the bank multiples I14 and I5, respectively. The head 32 1s mounted on the end portion of a horizontal arm 36 secured to and exten'ding forwardly from a'lver'tically movjable shaft or rod 38 mounted for: vertical reciprocation ina' guide memberjts secured to the table 25 (Fig. 2). The rod',3 8 ','atits lower' end, is attached'to and formsan extension of a piston rod 40 operatively connected to a pistonfi'l jfiFig. 4) mounted in a cylinder 42; which forms a. fluid actuator for reciprocating the head 32. The cylinder 4| has an enlarged ,headfonplate fl (Fig. l) to which are securedlloneiendiof.each of apair of vertically extendingrods. 45%45; "the other ends, of which are securjed to "the .tjablezli to. rigidly secure the. cylinder 42,' to the table '25. Fixed to the lower end'of the rod; 3!! isa cross head or member 41 apertured to slidingly engage rods 45, which serve toprevent' rotary movement of the rod 38'andthe headl32afFrom tne'flend's of the cross head '4'! depend/a pair ofspring supporting arms 48 -48, to the'lower end ofea'ch of whichis attached one endjfof, af contractile spring 50, the other end of which is secured-to the under side of the table 25. .IIhe springs 5ll5ll serve to maintain the head v32in its raised position and prevent the gradual-lowering of the head due to the. action of gravitywhen pressure tensions 53 are curved at their lower ends to fit the banks 12 when the head 32 is in its lowered position and serve to confine the? oil spray" to each of the banks I2 with which it is associated during the spraying operation; Ata'pered trough 54 is located directly below the head 32" and connected, through an outlet connection 55, to

4 62. The single 'pole of the microswitch 63 is nor mally disengaged from the contact 86 thereof and is connected to the contact 85 of the microswitch 62. The contact 84 of the switch 62 is connected to one end of the coil 81 of a relay 88, the other end of which coil is connected to the power line 83. With the switches 62 and 63 in their? normal positions: shown in Fig. 4, a circuit is completed through switch 62 and the coil .81. to actuate the relay 88 and thereby close cir- "ciiits across two pairs of contacts 98-91 and 92"--93i of the relay. The contact 9| is connected to one end of the relay coil 81 and the contact ,901 is connected. through a normally closed switch an exhaust system (not shown) whereby the ex cess oil from the spray gun may be disposed ofr The spray guns 33 and 34 are each connected by a flexible conduit 56 to an oil supply under air pressureand by a flexible conduit 558 to a compressed air line 59, the compressedair of which" is admitted, under control' of a solenoid-- actuated valve 60, to the spray guns to effect. their operation. The s ray head 32 is ada t d to be moved downwardly rapidly into alignment with and in close proximity to the banks l2 and to be raised rapidly. to its original starting o-- s'it'io'n. During the lower portion of the down-' ward movement of the" spray head 32, the sole: noid valve 60' is adapted to' be energized for a predetermined interval of time to cause each spray gun to direct a predetermined amountof oil downwardly therefrom in the form of a mist onto the banks immediately below the spray head to oil the wiper ends of the contacts ther'eon. V The reciprocation of the s ra head 32' and'th'e' operation of the spray guns 3-3 and 34 lllpIfOD'ef timed relation tothe' movement of the'b'ar'iks I2 is" controlled by an electrical control circuit ineluding a pair of microswitches 62 and 63. The switches 62 and 63'- are secured in a suitable rectanguiarrrarnework or bracket 65, which, in turn, rests on and is secured to a plate fidsupported on a pair of vertical frame members 51-61 secured to and extending outwardly from the supporting tabie 25'. switch operating arms 10 and TI ofthe rhioroswitches 62 acute; res ectively, engage depending arms 12 and 13 of a pair'of' bell cranks 14 and 15*, which are mounted for rocking movement on pivots l6 and 11' of the frame member 65. The bell cranks 14 and 15 are located adja'cent the path of travel of the bank multiples and with laterally extending portions of the arms 18 and 19' of the bell cranks exte ding in thepath of movement ofth'e ci'r-'- cilia-r shoulders 2'2 on the supportin rod H. The bellcranks 14 and 15 are positioned relative to each other and to the oiling head 32 so as "to be simultaneously actuated by the shoulders 22 of the supporting was I! or an individual bank .12 when the bank is in a predetermined aligned reiatioh to the oilinfg head 32 to effect the closing of the switches 62 and 63 and initiate a cycle of operation of the apparatus. The rods" H are arranged on the panel 18 with a lesser distance between adjacent rods' which support adjacent banks than between rods which support the same hank, whereby the switches 62 and 83 will be simiiitaneousiy actuated only by the rods (1 which support a bank between them.

The single pole of the switch 62 is connected to the line 8 2 of the power lines ta -t3 and nor:- ihaiiy engages the contact 84 and is disengaged from the contact '85, respectively, or the switch 95, ,to thepower line 82. The circuit through switch 95 and contacts and 9! comprises a holding circult'iorlocking the relay in operative position until switch is opened. The contact 92 is connected to the. contact 86 of switch 63 and the, contact 93 is connected to one end of a coil" 98 of a relay 9 1; the other end of the coil being connected to'the' line 83. The relay 9'! is adapted to actuatea pair'of switches I00 and RH; which, when-closed, serve to connect a coil I02 of a solenoid actuated valve I04 with the powerlihestj and 8 3. The relay 9? is actuated when the switches 52 arid' 63 are simultaneously actuated by a pair of rods-H, on which a bank' i2 is supported.

p The coil l ilZ, when energized, actuates the fluid controlarts tfl i'ir'l one direction for directing t H fl'ow or rlu through suitable conduits and afiowcontrol-valve Hi6- to'the upper end of the ylirider' to cause the piston M and the head 32 connected thereto to move downwardly. When the solenoid coil N32 is deenerg'ized, the valve {Q4 is spring retui'hed to its other position to direct the how of fluid through suitable conduits and aflow control valve 108 into the lower end ef t he cylinder 42 to cause the piston 4| and the head 32 tob'emoved upwardly to their raised position; A icoil H1901 the solenoid operated valve B-llinthe air lirie' of the spray guns is connected res with a normally open switch H0 and the-coil ffla'and the switch HG are connected in the solenoid coil I62 The switch W ghig.- '1 is mounted in a predetermined position c an' the head 44 of the cylinder 42 and is adaptedjto be closed by engagement therewith of a 0' member I'M adjustably mounted on the p I ead '41; for movement therewith. After the switch H0 has been closed, it is maintained in closed position by the member I i4 during the latter part or the" downward movement of the piston ime maintain a coil m9 of the solenoid actuatc xivalve. 60 energized to operate the spray Jti'ns 33fa'nfld 34 for a predetermined interval. Ih'eope-ration of the spray guns .33 and 34 is terminated after a predetermined interval by the deen ergization of the coil I09, which is ef- Iected when the 95' is opened by engagerh'enttherewith of a member H6 mounted on the crosshead 41. Theswitch 95 is opened to break the holding circuit to the relay 8 8 when the spray v andthe piston reach their lowermost and upon release of the relay 88, the cons 96; ltz'an'dlflg are deenergized to allow the relays? and the valves I84 and 68 associated therewith tofretnrn "to their normal positions. The valve I'B'', in returnin to its normal position', causes the reversal of fluid pressure in the cylinder [12 toeffecttlie' upward movement of the pi'ston with its elevated position.

itt'willbe noted that by'adjustin'g the cam member Htthe point in'the downward travel ofthe piston 4' I-"afi'whi'chthe switch 1 I is closed torinitiate the operation of the spray guns may beadvanced"orretarded.to vary the interval :of.

time"duringwhichwthe spray guns 33 :and 34 operate; .I :1 a -:-In'the operationofr'the apparatus; the fixture 20, with the bankmultiples I4 and attached thereto, is, moved along a straight path by the conveyor 24 toward theoiling apparatus. Wlth thegapparatusin its normal non-operating condition, the switches 62 and: -63':0f thecontrol mechanismare'in their normal positions, as illustrated in Fig. '4, .in whic'hposition of the switch 62: a circuit is". completed: 'therethrough and through the coil 81 offitheJrlaycBB to'hold the relayi8fl in actuated=position, in which position ofthe'relay 88:th'e holding 'circuit is'completed thereto through the contacts. 90 and 9|, and the coil. of the relay 91- isconnectedthrough the contacts 93-'9'2 tomthe contact of the switch 63;. Whenabankismoving'into and out of position under-the spraymhead,theswitches 62 and 63;,will be operated separ'ately', but. relay 0'! will not be'operated since the circuit thereto can only be completed. by .the simultaneous operation of switches 62 and 63. the first set of'banks I2 are'zthus moved into engagement with the contacts 85 and 86 andxclose a circuit through the switches 62 and 63 to actuate the relay S'Iwhich,

in-turn, completes the circuit to the coil-I02 to actuate valve I04 to its other operating. position. Upon actuationto its other operating position, the valve I04 directs the fluid pressure'into the upper end of the'cylinder 42to cause the downward movement'ofrthe piston 4| andthe corresponding lowering of the head 32. The'head 32 moves downwardly toward the set of banks thereunder, with the hoods 53-53 located immediately above and adjacent the individual" banks I2 during the lowermost portion of the downward movement thereof. At a predetermined pointiduring the latter part of the downward movement of the head 32, the switch I I0 is closed by the movement of? the member- I I4 to actuate the solenoid valve- 60-and cause the spray guns and 34 to project a spray of oil downwardly onto the pair of banks immediately'therebeneath. I

After a predetermined relatively short interval of time, the operationv of thespray guns 33 and 34 is stopped by the release of control valve 60. This is brought about by the deenergizationof the coilI09 when the member H6, moving with the piston 4I,,as-it.reaches the .end of its downward stroke, engages and opens the switch 95. The opening of the switch 95 breaks the relay holding circuit to release the relay 88 which, in turn, breaks the circuit to release relay 91 to effect the deenergization of the coils I02 and. I09 and-the restorationof the valves IM'and 60, respectively, to their normal operating position. With the valve I04, in its normal operating position, fluid will be directed into-the'cylinder 42 to move'the piston II and the head 32 to their raised position, thus completing one .cycle of the oil spraying operation. The enlargements 22 of the rods I I, in the meantime, will have moved out of gngasement with the bell cranks l4 and I to pera; mit them and the switches 32 and '03 tdietuiil; to .their normal positions, thereby completing a circuit through switch 62 .to actuate relay 88 and thus restore thecontrol mechanism, to the COD-v dition shown in Fig.4 in readiness for another cycle of operation. 1 t -Whatisclaimediszl I i =1. An. apparatusfor spraying articles compris inga conveyor for moving said articles in a-predetermined path, ,a spray head, guides -for guiding said head'for reciprocatory movement transversely -of the path of travel of said articles, anactu-t atoroperatively connected to said head for ad-.- vancingsaid head, into close proximity to the path of travel, of said article .andforreturning said head, controls for said actuator-including a switch mounted in the path of movement of said articles and actuatable by the movement of an articleon said conveyor into a predetermined position of alignment relative to said .head for initiating the operation of saidwactuator, and means operable in response to the movementof said head at a predetermined pointin its travel for efiecting the operation of said head to project a, predetermined amount of spray-'onto'the article in alignment therewith, e I g 2: -An apparatus for automatically spraying arr. ticles comprisinga conveyor for moving said ;ar.-

. ticles in a predetermined path, a spray head,

guides forguiding said head forrectilinearmovement transversely of the path of travelzof said articles and in alignment therewith; afluid actu,-: ator'having a piston operatively GOnnectedto said head for imparting -;reciprocatory;;;movement thereto, valve means normally positionedto effect movement of said piston in one direction whereby said head is moved away from; said, conveyor, a. pair of switches mounted in the .path of movement of said articles and actuatable in'response to the; movement of an article onsaid conveyor to a predetermined position relative'to said spray head, an electrical control circuit for actuating said .valve to a second position in response to the simultaneous actuation of said'switchesforef:

"fecting the reverse movement -of ;said piston wherebysaid head is moved into close proximity to an article in alignment therewith,= and means operable in response to a predetermined, portion ofthe movement of said head for actuating saidspray head to project a spray onto said article.

3. An apparatus for automatically spraying a plurality of articles arranged in a row on a fixture andindividually supported thereon by pairs of supporting members comprising a conveyor for advancing said fixture and articles thereon in a predetermined path, a spray head mountedifor reciprocation in a straight line transversely of the path of travel of said articles, an actuator for reciprocating said head, means for control.- ling said actuator to move said head into close proximity to the path of travel of said articles including a pair of switches so spaced and positioned as to be simultaneously actuated bythe article supporting members when the article ;on said conveyor is in a predeterminedsposition of alignment relative to the spray head, and means operable in response to the latter partof the movement of said head for actuating said spray head to project a spray onto said article, said means for controlling the actuator being operable toefiect the'return of said head upon completion of said spraying'operation. I y 4. An apparatus for automatically spraying are ticles comprising a conveyor for moving said articlessin a predetermined path. a spraywhead,

guides; for guiding said; head.for-rectilinearmovee ment: transversely: t thepath of: travel or said articles and in. alignmenttherewith, an. actuator: operatively connected to said head for-imparting reei-prooatoryv movement thereto, a controller for said actuator conditioned normatly. to cause: the actuator to hold the head away from the conveyor, a pair of: switches mounted in. the path. of movement of said articles and simultaneously actuat'able in; response to. the movementof: an article: on said conveyor to-a. predeterminedposi @011; relative to. saidspray head, an electrical cirf; cuit interconnecting said controller; said: switches and a source of: electrical current for governing theoperation of said:- controller and responsive to thesimultaneous. actuation. of said switches for efi'ectingthe reverse movement of said. head whereby said head; moved intoclose: proximity. to an article in alignment therewith, a controller for said sprayv head; and anelectrical circuit connected tosaidcontroller for said spray head and a. source of current and including switchmeans; actuatable toa closed position in response to-a predetermined portion of the movement of said head toreffeotingthe actuation: of said controller ofsaid spray head whereby said spray head is caused taproject a spray fora predetermined length of; time onto an article aligned: there- With-a 55; An apparatus-for spraying articles comprise. in-ga table havingguide means thereonfor guid mg -said articles formovementalong a predetermined path, abel-t conveyor-- mounted on said-table fzorreceiving said articles in random positions longitudinallythereof for moving said articles through said predetermined path, a spray head, means guiding-- said spray head for. rectilinearmovement transversely of 'the path of travel-of; said articles and in alignment therewith, a reei-procableaotuatoroperatively connected to said head for reciprocating said head to, and from operative and inoperative positions spaced and cl-oseproximity to-sa-id path of movea ment of'said article, respectively, control meansfor' controlling the reoiprocation of said actuator and: conditioned to normall-y' cause the: movement Q-ff' said actuatorand the movement of the spray to: its inoperative position, said control means including a switch disposed in the path of movement of said article and adapted to be closed! by. an: article in apredetermined position in. its travelfor causing a reversemovement of said actuator and the movement of said spray head its operative position, and means for aetuatingsai'd head: tocause a-spray to-be emitted there-from in response to l a p-redetermined move-- ment oi said head;

- 6'; Anapparatus: for=-sprayingarticlias compris inglguide meana'for guiding: articles for movement alonga: predetermined path, a conveyor associatedwith said guidewayfor receiving said articles in random. positions longitudinally-thereot and incooperation with said: guide means: for moving: said: articles through said predetermined path; aspray head, means guiding said spray headttor rectilinear: movement transversely ofthe pathv of trayel ofisaidarticles and in alignment therewith, an. reciprocable: fiuid actuator operativelyconnected tosaid spray head for reciprocatmg said? head: to and from. upper and lower-posit-ions; spaced from: and in close proximity to said path of movement of the articles; respectively;

electrically. operated valve forreversing the movement, of. said actuator and conditioned to mmflfli caus the: movement. oi: said actuator unease andathe: movement of said. head; toits: upper posie tion, electrical control means including a, switch mountediin the path ofrmovementof said articles andadaptedto-he closed by. an. article. in a predes termined position in its travel for actuating said: valve, to. cause a. reverse. movement; of said. actuator-and'sthe movement ot'saidsprayhead: to its lower; positiom'emd control means operable in response: to, a. predetermined. movement of; said head to:. actuate said. head and cause: a spray to be; emitted therefrom.

I Z; An: apparatus for spraying articles comprise guide means; for guiding articles" for move-. ment alongla predetermined: path, abelt conveyor; associated witnsaidguideway for receive ingthe; articles random position. longitudinally thereon for moving said. articles. through said predetermined: path, .a;spray head; means guiding said sprayhead: for rectilinear movement trans-. versely of the path. ofitravel-iot said articles: and in, alignment. therewith, a: reciprocable fluid actuator operatively: connected to said: spray head for reciprocating said head: toand from an inoperative position. arranged: in spaced relation to said:pathofmovementand an operative position arrangedzin. close. proximity to said path of movement, an. electrically. operated valve for reversing A the. movement of. said: actuator. and conditioned: to. normally cause the movementoi said. actuator and the movement: of said spray head? to its inoperative position, circuit. means connecting said; electrically] operated valve to a sourceoirelectrical ourrentsand includinga switch monntediin. the. path; ofmovement of said articles and; adapted: to be closed: by. an article. in a: predetermined position. on, said conveyor in alignment with said-. spray. head for efiecting the actuatiomofi. said; valve. to cause a reverse move-. mentaor said actuator and the movement of" said satay, headr to. its operative. position, a normally 6105 .63. electrically operated valve connected to said; spray head, circuit means: connecting; said normally closed valve: to said. source of? current an ncluding normally open. switch; means: movable inc timed relation to. said: spray head for closing.- saids normally; open. switch. at: a; predetermined: point; in. the movementof said head to effecztitheiaotuati'on ofrsaidxhead: and cause the pmjectiozm of, spray ontmthearti'ole aligned;tlierewith and means operable. in. response to. the movement of; saidzhead-Lto itsoperativepositionrto open said cirauito means: fior; disconnecting said electricaliy: operated. valves. from said. source of curr nt;

8. An apparatusfor-spraying articles:compris ing: a; conveyor. for receiving articles: in: random positiona longitudinally thereofi for moving said articles; through. a; predetermined patln. a spray head; meansrfor: guiding said spray head for movement: transversely-of the path: of movement on said: articles: and in. alignment. therewith, a fiuid'sactuator operativelyconnected to-said spray head for. reciprocating said? head to and from': an inoperative posit-ion spacedi from the path: of

- travel oj';saidfiamticles to.anroperative position. in

close; proximity; to.- the: path: oi: travel of said articles,. valve;means, for. reversing themovement ofisai'df: actuator and conditioned normally to ef feet themovement of said spray head toits inoperative position, control means including a memberwmountedlin. the pathof travel of-"said articles .and actuated by the movement a of anare time into a predeterminedposition on said conveyior. in. alignment with said-spray-head' to effect the... movementi'off said valve to another position:

and cause the movement of said head to its operative position, normally closed valve means associated with said spray head, and control means operable in response to a predetermined movement of the spray head to actuate said normally closed valve to cause the ejection of spray from said head onto an article aligned therewith.

EUGENE L. MALHIOT.

REFERENCES CITED Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Day Oct. '10, 1916 Allerton Dec. 6, 1927 Lang Oct. 20, 1931 Paasche Aug. 19, 1938 Pattison Apr. 28, 1942 Strong Aug. 31, 1943 Fischer Nov. 2, 1943 Schweitzer Apr. 10, 1945 Sykes et a1. Aug. 21, 1945 Shanklin et al May 25, 1948 Mero Nov. 9, 1948 

